Shaun Goater scored twice as Manchester City dug deep to go six points clear
at the top of the First Division.
It was remarkable result considering Kevin Keegan's side had played 83 minutes
with 10 men.
Algerian playmaker Ali Benarbia was given a straight red card by referee Peter
Walton apparently for throwing an elbow at Marc Bircham in an off-the-ball
incident.
Benarbia looked stunned but now faces a three-match ban for violent conduct.
It meant that for the second successive home game, City found themselves down
to 10 men in the opening stages.
Danny Tiatto was dismissed after 11 minutes in the clash against Norwich 17
days ago and is currently serving a ban.
They went on to win that match 3-1 - and showed similar resilience tonight
against another side harbouring dreams of promotion - for their seventh
successive victory.
However, Benarbia's dismissal means City have collected seven red cards this
season - and that must concern Keegan.
Certainly City dug in after Benarbia's dismissal in front of a partisan crowd
with no visiting supporters allowed.
Shaun Goater sliced the Millwall defence apart when he released Darren
Huckerby. The City striker had a clear route to goal but instead opted to try to
play a return ball. It was a poor effort, however, and Millwall managed to
scramble the ball to safety.
Eyal Berkovic then sent a shot over the top following a cross from Niclas
Jensen.
Millwall again found themselves on the back foot when Kevin Horlock picked out
Shaun Wright-Phillips. He raced on, only to fire wide.
Wright-Phillips and Huckerby both went close before City were thrown a
lifeline in the 32nd minute.
They were awarded a penalty when Wright-Phillips was tripped by David
Livermore but the chance was squandered by skipper Stuart Pearce.
Keeper Tony Warner got down quickly to save his spot kick at the foot of the
post with some degree of comfort.
City continued to pour forward as half-time approached with Wright-Phillips
and Huckerby keen to try their luck on goal when the half-chance arose.
Pearce needed brief treatment a minute into the second half after a stiff
challenge from Richard Naylor, which earned him a yellow card.
Huckerby carved a path through the Millwall defence in the 55th minute but
Sean Dyche got in a timely tackle to avert the danger.
Despite being down to 10 men the home side, 4-1 winners over Ipswich on
Sunday, were the dominant force.
In front of another 30,000-plus crowd, Millwall packed the midfield and relied
on counter attacks.
City almost made the breakthrough after 64 minutes when Wright-Phillips and
Goater played a neat one-two but Warner somehow managed to tip the ball to
safety.
Berkovic then smashed wide a volley from close range after Huckerby had
delivered the cross.
City made the breakthrough after 78 minutes when Pearce played the ball into
the path of Wright-Phillips.
He sent a shot across the face of the goal that Warner tipped onto the post
but Goater was lurking and made no mistake.
Goater scored his 28th goal of the season with two minutes remaining after
Huckerby refused to give up on what seemed a lost cause.
Teams:
Man City: Weaver, Dunne, Wiekens, Pearce, Wright-Phillips,
Benarbia, Horlock, Berkovic, Jensen, Goater (Dickov 90),
Huckerby.
Subs Not Used: Nash, Ritchie, Edghill, Killen.
Sent Off: Benarbia (7).
Goals: Goater 78, 87.
Millwall: Warner, Ward (Lawrence 46), Nethercott, Dyche, Ifill,
Cahill, Bircham (Ryan 46), Livermore, Reid, Naylor,
Sadlier (Harris 70).
Subs Not Used: Gueret, Bull.
Booked: Ward, Naylor.
Att: 30,238
Ref: P Walton (Northants).
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